Results 2,121-2,140 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: That is still the case. If there is a further update on that I will refer back directly to the Deputy.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The first point the Deputy raised was about additional needs and resource hours. We issued guidelines yesterday to all schools and principals to ensure that we connect with our most vulnerable students. That attention to detail will continue. Second, many of our SNAs have already been engaged in ensuring that continuity of connection between their students within schools. The feedback we...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: On the first issue, that individual is one of 4,000 people who have applied to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is a major issue and that is why I picked up the phone to the Secretary of State for Education in London, Gavin Williamson. My Department's Secretary General is in contact with his counterpart in London as well, and I have written formally to the Northern Ireland...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: This is an incredibly important issue. Like the Deputy, I am getting a lot of direct contact, primarily from students but from some parents as well. There is much stress and anxiety. There is the shock that people are dealing with but there is also the shock of not knowing where we will be in September, October or November, never mind where we will be next week. There is uncertainty in...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The significant dates are that the leaving certificate is to start on 29 July. We are working on the timetable, which is important. As outlined earlier, that is going to be tested through the advisory group in the context of how we work within the public health advice. The Deputy asked when that will be ready, and it will be in the first week of June. Tomorrow week is 1 May, so, four...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: All the conversations we are having are through the dedicated advisory group. As recently as last Friday, the Irish Second-Level Students Union raised issues such as plan B and what are the contingencies, such as contingencies for sickness or bereavement. All of these pertinent questions are being asked. We are going to work on the contingencies and we will not go into this in a blinkered...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Again, that is one of the questions to be explored by the working group. The group will be very busy. It will be meeting formally twice a week but there will be a constant conversation in between. Again, we are not - and, as Minister for Education and Skills, I certainly am not - going to put any student in jeopardy in terms of his or her health or healthcare needs. While the group works...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: The Deputy raised the issue of fees to be paid at the end of the month. We will extend that date until after the exams. This is only fair and I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. With regard the structure and timetabling of exams, I have set up an advisory group to work on this. The advisory group has already met and will meet again tomorrow. It will meet twice a week. It...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Yes. I will be as brief as possible. I apologise for Deputy Byrne not getting the briefing. I will ensure that it happens. The clarity that was asked of me at the briefing on 1 April when we were all on a web conference was about whether the leaving certificate would be going ahead in June. The demand made of me that day was that clarity was needed ASAP, be that the next day or...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: That is all right.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaithe uilig as an seans labhairt leo inniu faoi na príomhrudaí a bhaineann leis an oideachas. Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom focal pearsanta a rá leo maidir leis an chaidreamh dhearfach a bhí eadrainn thar na laethanta agus na seachtaine seo a chuaigh thart agus maidir leis an eolas, comhairle agus rudaí mar sin....

Coronavirus: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a ghabháil leis na príomhoidí uile, na tuismitheoirí, na daltaí scoile, na déagóirí agus an méid scoileanna atá i gceist maidir leis an tionchar suntasach atá i gceist leis na cásanna Covid-19. Chomh maith leis sin, ba mhaith liom...

Establishment of Standing Order 131 Select Committee: Motion (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders— (1) the Whips and other nominees shall appoint sixteen members to the Select Committee standing established under Standing Order 131 (which shall be called the Standing Order 131 Select Committee); (2) a Minister or Minister of State shall announce the names of the members appointed under paragraph (1) for the information...

Standing Orders 30, 100, 118A, 119, 120, 173, 178 and 219, and membership of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform: Motion (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I move: That– (1) the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business are amended with immediate effect— (a) by the adoption of the following new Standing Order: '118A. (1) There shall stand established, following the reassembly of the Dáil subsequent to a General Election, a Committee, which shall be called the Committee on Standing Orders and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.   The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 241 together. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism. 167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new autism special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Panel Rights (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers, to other schools that have vacancies. At primary level, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel in the first instance and thereafter from Supplementary Redeployment Panels comprised of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: My Department has requested the Project Manager who administered this project to submit detailed proposals dealing with various issues raised with the building. Upon receipt of these proposals my Department will be in contact with the school authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Mar 2020)

Joe McHugh: A new building project for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council (LCC).  The project has now progressed through Stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification, and the preparation of tender documents.I am pleased to advise that the project...